A New Jersey woman has been charged with stealing more than half a million dollars’ worth of services from an East Hempfield Township hospital by falsely claiming to have sickle cell anemia, then leaving without paying for her treatments.

Taleah Javon McKnight, of Carteret, N.J., was charged with one count each of theft by deception and theft of services.

McKnight, 30, is accused of checking herself into Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center under a false name to receive treatment for symptoms of sickle cell anemia, then leaving after about a month without paying for the more than $560,000 in services she owed.

A security manager at the hospital told police McKnight had checked into the hospital in February 2024 under a false name and date of birth. McKnight presented documentation signed by a medical doctor claiming she had sickle cell anemia and stating she would self-pay for any treatment.

Hospital staff became suspicious of McKnight’s diagnosis after about a month of treatment and performed a test that showed she did not have sickle cell anemia.

When confronted with her negative diagnosis and concerns about her payment due, McKnight gave hospital staff identification with a false name, signed herself out of the hospital against a doctor’s advice and left. Hospital staff were told by MediCare and MedicAid around the same time that they would not be reimbursed for services rendered to McKnight due to those agencies not having any record of the name she had provided them.

Security staff at the hospital discovered that McKnight had been a patient at two other medical facilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania using a different name, uncovering multiple social media profiles that featured pictures and videos of her inside hospital rooms. Additionally, GoFundMe profiles soliciting funds for McKnight’s hospital expenses were also found.

Police were able to identify McKnight by searching for the name she had used to organize the GoFundMe fundraisers.

Judge Brian Chudzik set McKnight’s bail at $150,000 unsecured in a preliminary arraignment in March. McKnight is currently free on that amount.

East Hempfield Township Police Detective David Bender filed the charges.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.